Hierarchical Hydrogel Composite Interfaces with Robust Mechanical Properties for Biomedical Applications

Abstract

Since mechanotransduction and interactions at the interface between materials and cells play crucial roles in the regulation of cell behaviors and the genotype-to-phenotype relation ship, mechanical properties are important parameters in the Cells sense and respond to a wide range of external signals, including chemical signals, topography, and interface mechanics, via interactions with the extracellular matrix (ECM), triggering the regulation of behavior and function. The ECM can be considered a hierarchical multiphase porous matrix with various components. Highly porous hydrogel-based biomaterials can mimic the critical ECM properties, to provide mechanical support for tissues and to regulate cellular behaviors, such as adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation. Herein, based on micro/nanoscale-topography-coupled mechanical action, recent advances in the fabrication and application of hydrogel composites with tunable mechanical properties and topography in biomedicine are summarized. In particular, recent findings showing that hydrogels with specifically designed structures not only influence a range of cellular processes and fit the needs of engineered tissues but also have pharmacological effects are emphasized. Hydrogels

Reversible Mechanical Regulation and Splicing Ability of Alginate-Based Gel Based on Photo-Responsiveness of Molecular-Level Conformation

“…Azobenzene moieties could be turned from an E - into a Z -conformation via irradiation with 365 nm light, and returned from Z - to E -conformation by irradiation with 450 nm light [39]. Thus, the Azo-hydrazide was firstly irradiated with 365 nm light for 30 min to control the molecular conformation of the linker, avoiding the uncontrollable amidation reaction between the linker and alginate.…”

Black phosphorus-based 2D materials for bone therapy

“…Hydrogels are a type of natural/synthetic polymer chains interconnected by cross-linking agents to produce hydrophilic biomaterials with a gel macromolecular structure [ [136] , [137] , [138] ]. Due to their hydrophilic properties, hydrogels have abilities to swell, hydrate, and mimic the mechanical and lubricating properties of different biological tissues [ [139] , [140] , [141] , [142] ]. Besides, the injectable and crosslinking properties including physical crosslinking (hydrophobic interaction, hydrogen bonding, electrostatic force, etc.)…”

Recent Advances on Magnetic Sensitive Hydrogels in Tissue Engineering

“…Hydrogels have been shown to be one of the most applicable biomaterials in tissue engineering (Kabu et al, 2015;Madl et al, 2017Madl et al, , 2019Deng et al, 2019) mainly attributed to their inner 3D network microstructures, moderate biocompatibility, and good water content feature, which are analogous with those of the natural tissue (Cui Z.K. et al, 2019;Zhu et al, 2019). Meanwhile, hydrogel-based drug delivery systems for numerous therapeutic agents, with high water content, low interfacial tension with biological fluids, and soft consistency, have been shown to be more stable, economical, and efficient in comparison with conventional delivery systems (Li and Mooney, 2016;Moore and Hartgerink, 2017;Cheng et al, 2019;Fan et al, 2019;Zheng et al, 2019).…”